August's Must-Stay Parks:Red Rock Area in Iowa

The Red Rock area of Iowa lies just west of the Mississippi River with farmsteads dotting the countryside and communities rich in tradition. The region's just 45 minutes southeast of the Des Moines Metro, where the I-80 and I-35, in the heart of Iowa. This location is nationally known for Pella’s Dutch Tulip Time Festival and Knoxville’s Sprint Car Nationals.

LAKE RED ROCK. Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s largest lake, with just over 15,000 surface acres of water and over 50,000 acres of public land provides a great destination for visitors. Here you will find over 1,000 campsites at federal, state, county and private campgrounds. Elk Rock State Park offers equestrian camping and Roberts Creek campground offers several sites with full hook-ups. There are also 7 modern cabins at Cordova Park and 2 private cabins in the area.

While staying at Lake Red Rock, enjoy climbing the Cordova Tower, biking the Volksweg Trail or fishing for crappies. Paddling the Red Rock Water Trail offers excellent opportunities to see some of Iowa’s wildlife and natural habitat. The Gladys Black Eagle Refuge is a 38-acre refuge that holds historic Bald Eagle roosting trees along the Des Moines River. Come July 13-15 to enjoy the Lake Red Rock Balloon Festival and check out our web site for weekly events.

PELLA. Experience a touch of Holland without needing a passport. Located just 3 miles from Lake Red Rock, savor Pella’s Dutch history and visit the tallest working windmill in the US. Enjoy charming shops, Dutch pastries, Molengracht canal and beautiful flowers while strolling the streets. Bike rentals are available in Pella.

KNOXVILLE. During the summer enjoy weekly races at the Knoxville Raceway and visit the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum to learn about the traditions of big wheel racing. A log cabin, Bussey Depot and Stagecoach Inn are just a couple of the historic buildings located at the Marion County Historical Village.